W.D. Adams, “Mr. Forney” Dies at 89

Dallas Morning News
Wednesday, 29 March 1961, Page IV-5

Staff Special to The News

FORNEY, Texas – Walter Dickson Adams, grand old man of Texas pharmacy and “Mr. Forney” for most of his 89 years, died here Tuesday.

Mr. Adams, who gained his first business experience clerking in a brother’s drug store at Kaufman, had been active until some 10 days ago. During his long career he had won many honors in his field, including the presidency of the American Pharmaceutical Association.

Requiem eucharist will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Forney’s Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, of which Mr. Adams was the last surviving charter member. Funeral services will be conducted at the church at 2 p.m. Wednesday, followed by entombment in Hillcrest Memorial Mausoleum, Dallas.

A native and lifelong resident of Kaufman County, Mr. Adams was born at Kemp on Dec. 31, 1871, the son of George M. and Elizabeth Hubert Adams. Orphaned at the age of three, he was cared for by a widowed aunt until her death, which left the 12-year-old-boy to shift for himself. Working in the drug store of a brother, S.N. Adams, he attended public school in Kaufman and later served an apprenticeship in the print shop of the Kaufman Sun.

He came to Forney in 1887 to work in the drug store of another brother and attend a private academy here. That year he was appointed Forney correspondent for The Dallas News, a position he held for nearly 70 years. For almost as long, he was The News distributor in Forney.

He was married on Dec. 20, 1894, to Miss Mattie Self. She died 13 years ago, a week after their 53d wedding anniversary.

Nieces and nephews are his nearest survivors.